Each garment in the Bella Linea line has a built-in shaping liner that smooths the waistline and plays up a woman’s feminine curves. Runway models said it was "comfortable" and that it "pulled everything in." The fall 2013 line, with a target demographic of women ages 30 to 55, features interchangeable classics such as pencil skirts, dresses, pants and blazers that can quickly change from day to evening looks. Prices range from $500 for everyday work outfits to $1,800 for a full-length ball gown in black featuring a French lace bodice. Reilly, who graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in December—and did internships at Louis Vuitton, Talbots and the Department of Commerce during her studies—spent the last eight months developing the line.

Reilly is no stranger to entrepreneurship. She founded her own jewelry line, Paparazzi Jewelry, featuring costume jewelry made out of vintage bottle caps six years ago.

Since Bella Linea is brand new, it is not in any retail stores yet, and the debut was for the press and for buyers. Currently, the founders are debating whether it is better to try to get into a higher-end store like a Bergdorf Goodman, or more mid-level department stores such as Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN).

Adding the shapewear into the garments is “definitely an added cost, but we’re not looking to do mass production,” she said. “What really adds to our costs though is it’s all made in America. It’s expensive to do that but it was important to us.”

In fact, they manufacture everything in Manhattan, which is unusual but both she and Ciafone—who employ 500 people at Broadway Stages and is an advocate for creating jobs in New York City—are passionate about creating jobs.

After getting an MA in journalism from Syracuse University, Teresa worked as a general assignment newspaper reporter—general on purpose because besides the usual city hall and police articles, there was the chance to fly an F-18 with the Blue Angels and tag along with bounty hunters on a stakeout—all good preparation for covering entrepreneurs.

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